Page 105 of Breathless
My heart kicks inexcitement.
Bev is escorted down the aisle by one of her nephews, and I peek outside to see them make their way down a pebbled walkway, through the rows of guests, to a trellised archway where Ethan and the groomsmenwait.
“Holy shit,” whispers Shelby, one of the bridesmaids who flew in from out of town late last night. “This is so stinkingpretty.”
Behind me, Tori pouts. “I wannasee.”
One of the girls tuts and makes Tori wait behind thepartition.
Then Shelby bumps me with her elbow and lowers her voice. “Who are the sexy beasts standing next to thegroom?”
Without looking, I know she must be talking about Logan andBrady.
Across the aisles, my eyes connect with Logan’s, and my heart beats triple time. He smiles, and it zaps me right in the chest. Suddenly, everything I’ve been wrestling with for the past two weeks, every moment of doubt and fear, every hesitation, dissolves. I smile. “That’s the groom’s brother Logan. He’s mine. The other one is Kat’shusband.”
When it’s my turn, I barely notice anything but Logan as I walk down the path. Sexy beast is right. Dang, he fills out that tuxnicely.
When I reach the archway, Ethan gives me a big grin, and I whisper, “Goodluck.”
Then my eyes go back to Logan, who puts his hand over his heart and mouths, “You are sobeautiful.”
There are a million things I want to say, but the kids are about to walk down the aisle, so we turn to watch Cody and Zach, the ring bearers, make their way to thefront.
Seeing how the Carters have welcomed Zach warms me in a way I wasn’t expecting. But of course they’d welcome him with open arms. That’s just the kind of people theyare.
Ethan leans down to give both of the boys hugs and motions for them to stand in front ofLogan.
Mila and Kat’s daughter Izzy toss flower petals, pausing to twirl their poofy dresses when they get to the front. Everyone laughs. Ethan hugs the girls before they come to stand withus.
And then it’stime.
A hush falls as Christina Perri’sA Thousand Yearsbegins to play, and the guestsstand.
Mr. Duran and Tori pause at the top of the path, and her full skirt billows in the gentle breeze as the sunset backlightsthem.
“Damn, I’m a lucky man.” Ethan looks like he’s been struck by lightning. Or a powerful case oflove.
Logan pats him on the back as everyone marvels at the beautifulbride.
By the time her father hands her off to Ethan, everyone’s chokedup.
After Tori gives Kat her bouquet to hold, she holds out her hand, and I place a few tissues in it so she can dab her eyes. We knew she’d never make it through the ceremony withoutcrying.
Ethan has to clear his throat a few times during his vows. “Tori, you came to me at one of the darkest times in my life. You showed me what it means to really and truly love. You’re my best friend, my favorite person, my lover, my everything. I promise to always cherish you, to always put you first and love you with my whole heart. And it would make me the luckiest man and father to have you as my wife. The three of us”—he pauses and Cody and Mila move closer to stand with him—“would be so honored if you’d join our little family. We promise to lift your spirits when you’re sad. Cheer you on when you’re happy. Support your dreams. To always love you, and to always stand by yourside.”
Tori wipes her eyes, and I sniffle. Some of the bridesmaids are full-out crying. Pretty sure half of the audience istoo.
As I look at the emotion on Logan’s face, I wonder if this will be us in a few years. And when he looks at me and mouths that he loves me, the anticipation that’s been brimming in my chestoverflows.
After taking a deep breath, Tori leans up to kiss Ethan. “I know we haven’t gotten to the kissing part, but as my parents will tell you, I’ve never been that good about following rules.” She pauses while everyone chuckles. “But every day that we’ve been together, I’ve counted my blessings. You and Cody and Mila have become such a big part of me, I can’t tell where you guys end and I begin. And something about that tells me we’ve always meant to be. Ethan, you’re the crunch to my peanut butter and the peas to my carrots. I consider myself the luckiest girl alive to have you as my husband. I promise to always be there for you in good times and in bad, no matter what challenges we face. To be your person. To love you and our children wholeheartedly. To encourage you every step of theway.”
She smiles and wipes her eyes, adding, “Except I hope it’s okay to let you know we won’t be a family of four forlong.”
Taking his hand in hers, she places it on herbelly.
We’re quiet for a long breath until Ethan lets out a loud whoop, scooping her up to spin her around a kiss. “We’re having a baby,y’all!”
Everyone stands to clap and cheer. The moms are crying, and the kids are jumping up and down. It’s barely contained weddinganarchy.
